TEST DRIVE MEME!

[faderifting]

I ROLL TO SEDUCE THE BEAR

Tucked between the massive Lake Calenhad and the icy Frostback Mountains in Ferelden’s chilly, hilly south, the Hinterlands are a region covered in patchy forests, small farms, and a bustling fishing village called Redcliffe. The region was recently the frontline of a war between mages and Templars, but the Inquisition’s military presence has restored order and is now focused on helping the locals and influx of refugees rebuild their lives. Whether you’re a recent recruit or a hardened veteran, a Fereldan local or someone who recently fell out of a rift from another world, you may be asked to go lend a hand.

I. FLOODS

A burst of unseasonably warm weather (in no way inspired by real life events) is initially greeted with relief, gloves discarded and scarves unwrapped—but followed within the week by severe flooding across the region. Maybe you’re sent out to help debris from a road or collect the bodies of those swept away. Or maybe you’re less lucky and instead there when the waters come, shepherding refugees to higher ground, or caught riding in the flow on a dislodged roof or log. Maybe there’s a bear on the roof with you.

II. TREASURE HUNTS

Given the lack of banks and lockboxes, when the people here have something they value, they often hide it—under the ground, in a tree, behind a waterfall. So here you are, with a sketch of some landmarks found on a body, trying to find… something. If you find it, it might be useful: weapons, runes, a stash of supplies. Or it might be someone’s box of racy letters and a request to deliver them to a now-married woman who will slap you on delivery.

III. BEARS

You have turned the wrong corner, forded the wrong stream, crested the wrong hill, entered the wrong cave. Maybe you are far from camp. Maybe you are in camp. Whatever has happened, wherever you are: you are being chased by bears. Did you provoke the bears? Are they huge? Babies? Fade-touched? Mage-controlled? What are they chasing you away from? What are they chasing you into? What do you plan to make out of their hide if you kill them? What do you think they'll craft out of your hide if they kill you?

IV. CRYSTALS

Members and trusted agents of the Inquisition are given access to one of the Inquisition's stores of ancient, mysterious sending crystals, allowing them to communicate instantaneously by voice. It's magic. And a magical excuse to ask everyone what their favorite constellation is in the middle of the night.

Or to call for help because you've been treed by bears.

Either way.

V. MISCELLANEOUS

Choose your own adventure! Hunt game, kill demons, gather herbs, track bandits, haggle over the price of armor, fall off a deceptively tall rock, get lost circling the same hill ten times trying to find a way up to the weird glowing skull on a stick you can see is up there, climb trees or abandoned towers, rummage around in empty homes, run from a dragon, cry over how cute that fennec fox you just shot was, set up camp and chat around the fire, knock yourself out (figuratively, or even literally if that's more your speed)—the Hinterlands are your Frostback Mountain oyster.

Comments

[timeforgotten]

[ The nerve of people, saying that seriously. ]

That's a bit ridiculous. They'd have a difficult time complaining from a destroyed planet.

[not_the_question]

[He chuckles.]

That's how I see things, but you know, they never know just how bad things can get.

[timeforgotten]

No, I suppose they don't.

[not_the_question]

To be fair, most can't really comprehend their planet being destroyed. Even when it's moments from happening.

[timeforgotten]

Yes, you're right about that.

[ The captain of the freighter's crew had certainly said she understood the implications of what they'd be doing if they left the logic codes, but... well, hard to be certain of that sort of thing, at the end of the day. ]

Not that you ever tend to be wrong about these things, of course.

[not_the_question]

The times I'm wrong tend to be when the planet isn't actually about to be destroyed.

[timeforgotten]

Yes. How do you always manage that? Is it just a matter of experience?

[not_the_question]

More about getting the expectation wrong. When you expect the world to always be destroyed or under a similar threat, all your judgements become skewed in that direction.

[timeforgotten]

"Laws of probability, that sort of thing"?

[ One of the most nonsensical things his first Doctor ever said, and yet it seems oddly fitting for this situation. Oh, who knows. Maybe he was just a bit early. ]

[not_the_question]

Pretty much that. Or maybe I'm just too old for anything at this point.

[Which is also possible.]

[timeforgotten]

With that attitude, I'd almost believe it's possible. But the universe is still awfully infinite, isn't it?

If there's the possibility of having something new to learn or a planet to save, I'd hope you do me the courtesy of doing it no matter how old you've gotten.

[ He could always haunt him. More than emotionally, that is. ]

[not_the_question]

Only to a point. Everything dies, eventually. One of two universal constants: everything is born and everything dies.

[Pauses in thought.]

Of course I would. I haven't changed that much.

[Sheesh, Adric, what do you take him for?]

[timeforgotten]

[ Adric studiously steers himself away from the "everything dies" conversational point. He is, personally, not a fan, no matter how scientifically valuable the facts may be. ]

Well then you're hardly getting too old for anything, are you?

[not_the_question]

Perhaps not.

[It sounds just a little battle-weary. Then he sounds over-excited. Acting, it's what he does.]

But then! That's why I have you lot. You keep my young. Remind me of those things.